Alright, the honky-tonk piano in this song and it's sing-songy-ness contrasts sharply with the lyrics of the song, indicating that the narrator of the song is using an ironic point of view. This song mocks liberal-minded individuals (specifically during the sixties) who believed the world should change, but do not take any action toward this goal. The first verse seems to refer to an incident in Queens in 1964 in which a woman got killed, but was clearly within earshot of several people's windows. No one called the police or assisted her. In the third verse, the use of the word "colored" indicates an insensitive view of the racial issue, and the indifference of these people to the problems faced by African Americans.
I really like this song....I'd never heard that additional verse though....that's interesting...
I'll comment on a Phil Ochs song!!!! :-)
Alright, the honky-tonk piano in this song and it's sing-songy-ness contrasts sharply with the lyrics of the song, indicating that the narrator of the song is using an ironic point of view. This song mocks liberal-minded individuals (specifically during the sixties) who believed the world should change, but do not take any action toward this goal. The first verse seems to refer to an incident in Queens in 1964 in which a woman got killed, but was clearly within earshot of several people's windows. No one called the police or assisted her. In the third verse, the use of the word "colored" indicates an insensitive view of the racial issue, and the indifference of these people to the problems faced by African Americans.
I really like this song....I'd never heard that additional verse though....that's interesting...